Aww is an exclamation people make when they see or hear something that touches their heart in a sweet, gentle way. You might say aww when you see a puppy tumbling over its own paws, or when a little kid tries to carry something too big for them. The sound captures that warm, tender feeling that makes you want to smile.

People also say aww to show sympathy or comfort. If your friend tells you they're disappointed about missing a field trip, you might respond with a soft aww to show you understand and care about their feelings.

The word is written in different ways to show how long you hold the sound: aw, aww, or awww. The more w's, the stronger the feeling. When you type it in a text message, adding extra w's is like giving someone a warmer hug in words.

Notice that aww sounds different from awe, which means overwhelming wonder or respect. You feel awe standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, but you say aww when you see a kitten sleeping in a tiny ball.